By Manny Vazquez, M.S., LMFT

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Many, many people have pets. For many of us who do, our pets are a vital part of
our Family. We love them like they were one of our children, and we would do
anything for them. Some of us have paid huge sums of money for our dogs to
veterinarians to have medicines or treatments that promote a long, healthy life for
our pets.

There are pets who are deemed special support animals. These dogs often wear
special vests, and people other than their owner are not supposed to go near
them or touch them.

The other day, I was in a bookstore, and there was a young girl sitting in the cafe
of the bookstore, and at her feet, was a beautiful dog. I had to comment on him,
so I simply said, “Beautiful dog.” The girl smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Then, I noticed the vest on the dog. “Oh, he’s a service animal,” I said, still
smiling. Immediately, I noticed anxiety in this young girl. As a counselor, I can
spot anxiety or depression in someone easily. I saw fear in this girl, as she
started to realize I was engaging in a discussion with her about her dog.
Immediately, I waved goodbye to the her and the dog and walked away, quickly.

Service animals are more than just pets. They are often trained to remain at their
owner’s side, no matter what. Sometimes, the dog is trained to offer its owner
comfort in the face of trauma, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes, dogs are
trained as companions for people who don’t do well with other people. Some
dogs are trained to remind people of what time they should take a medicine or
take a necessary medical treatment. Some dogs can even sense when someone
is going to have a seizure and alert a loved one.

I once saw a documentary about a young girl who was born severely disabled.
Doctors said she would never walk, and that due to the disability, she could never
go in a pool or another body of water. Her Parents did their research, and they
got her a Great Dane to help her. This disabled child grew up with this huge dog
next to her all the time. Over time, when she reached a developmental stage
where she should be walking, she learned to lean on the dog to walk. The
documentary talked about how this girl, now a teenager, depending on her dog
for everything. The dog was very friendly toward the girl, her Family, and her
Friends, but if the dog sensed danger from someone, it stood ready to defend the
girl. As the girl grew, the dog helped her do something that doctors said she
should never do; she got into pools, and eventually, she got into the lake next to
her Parents’ home because her dog helped her. This dog helped this little girl do
everything that doctors said she would never be able to do.

I would argue that all pets are service animals. Our little dog, Torii, a Jack Russell
terrier mix, has been through thick and thin with us. She’s been with us as we
navigated some hard times in our marriage. She gives more unconditional love
and acceptance to us than some people in our lives do. I’d be willing to bet that
most pet owners feel about their pet like we do.

Pets are good for our mental health, too. There is research that suggests that
when you pet a dog, or you scratch him behind the ears, it is not only good for
the dog’s mental health but also for yours. I’ve noticed that when I pet my dog, I
feel better emotionally, and I know she loves it. She sits there and closes her
eyes, as I scratch behind her ears or under her neck.

If they can afford to care for a pet, I recommend that my clients get a pet,
whatever pet they want. I’ve had clients with 10 cats, or a ferret, or a bird, and
many with dogs. What I’ve noticed over the years is that my clients who have
pets recover from their mental health conditions quicker than those without pets.

For veterans of war, the government has programs that provide service dogs to
veterans, which has been shown to help in decreasing symptoms of post-
traumatic stress disorder.

In closing, I do recommend that people get pets to help them overcome mental
health issues that are bothering them. Having to care for a pet is one of the
healthiest things one can do.

So, the next time a barking dog or a meowing cat wakes you up in the middle
night, before you get upset, remember that the pet making all that noise is
someone’s family member.